Hi Lee, thank you. Yes, this was a difficult one, but I’m glad I wrote it. This is a story which has been waiting for a few decades now, but there’s never really a good time to release something like this, as world events keep this subject a constant reality somewhere in the world.

Ah Kenny, yep Russia’s a big place! Antun and Inajda’s home (at that time; they’ve lived in various parts, such as St. Petersburg and Moscow; which I agree would be an impossible treck) was situated in the south, and was about 50 miles North of the Mongolian border, so they walked. Thanks for reading. I appreciate it. Cheryl

Hi Russell, thank you, yes it’s been one of the hardest stories in this series as it’s close to what’s happening (and has happened throughout history) to innocent people in so many places around the world. Fiction is an uncomfortable mimic sometimes, but there are a lot of very good people out there, in our real world to counter some of the horrific and unspeakable cruelty. (Xan and Edith hopefully do justice to them.)

A very moving edition. You really made me feel the horror of the refugees. A horrible place to be. The images of the murdered parents was very haunting. Both your writing and illustrations were very effective. Nice work.

Thank you John, I appreciate it. I debated over the drawings, and something as horrible as that needed only to be in the writing. I’m always aware of going too far with a public post. The imagination is more powerful than any drawing, I feel. I’m glad it worked, as it’s always difficult to get the right measure. With something like this, the reader fills in a lot of the gaps.

Thank you Richard, I’ve been debating how to tell this story for a while, but felt it was time to release it. To me the tragedy is that Inajda and Antun will never truly know their parents, and stripped of them, Inajda, especially becomes quite hardened and emotionally remote. She cares deeply about her family, especially (in the future) her children Alexand, Heyem and Farokh, but she never recovers, never becomes the woman (or mother) she would have been had her mother and father survived.

Unbound Boxes on Flickr

The blurb for Unbound Boxes Limping Gods

(Set in 4041, the first book begins on Christmas Island, Japan.) Alexand Merek is a woman who treasures "Bad Things," and delights in music. She has done something stupid, placing those she loves in danger. Women like her are not welcome in the ordinary world, where women who play piano and dance with wives are placed into, "The Bad Thing Box." Alexand must fight to bring her lost family back together to save them from an unimaginable fate. (If you would like to see this book published, please press the follow button. The writer gives life to a story, but the reader keeps it alive.)

This is for you Dad.

My stories and my world are dedicated to you, Dad. You died before I was old enough to know who you were. I will try to find you in my stories, to go to places far away from this world, to search for you. Maybe one day I'll know you again. Until then I'll keep writing.
I'll never forget you.
Cheryl

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You are very welcome to leave comments. I would love to hear what you think of the stories and characters. Your constructive criticism is very much appreciated and very rarely put in my spam box!
Thank you for reading.
Cheryl